Concrete construction



April 1936- J. E. GRANT 2,037,573

CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Sept. 24, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR April 1936 J. E. GRANT CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Sept 24, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 [LVJ ENTOR BY ATTORNEY April 14, 1936. J. E. GRANT 2,037,573

CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Sept. 24. 1950 4 sheets sheet s INKENTOR $0M UM A TTORNEY April 1 4, 1936. J E, T 2,037,573

CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Sept. 24, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR am. WZQUW ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION John E. Grant, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Margaret T. Yates, New York, N. Y.

4 Claims.

A further object of my invention is an improved system for forming a concrete structure.

A further object of my invention is the con struction of a reenforced concrete structure embracing metallic reenforcing elements and inorganic forming and reenforcing elements.

2 A further object of my invention is an improved method for holding organic flexible structures in position to form forms for pouring concrete.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, my invention consists of the methods employed, combination and arrangement of systems, apparatus and means as hereinafter specifically set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings of the herein-described embodiment of my invention, and as constructed according to my process, Figure 1 represents a sectional view of a building, looking towards the end thereof, showing. the construction of the roof, ceiling, side walls and floor; Fig. 2 is a. sectional view of the portion of the building shown in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow 2; Fig. 3 is a sectional view in elevation through a column, if columns be desired in the structure; Fig. 4 represents the construction of a wall or partition, particularly showing the relative position of the supporting members and mats; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through the construction shown in Fig. 4, particularly showing the bracing and supporting members; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken through 66 of Fig. 4; Fig. '7 is a view in elevation of'a portion of the corner of a structure or building, certain parts being removed in part, and is a view looking in the direction of the arrow 1 in Fig. 8; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken through 8-8 of Fig. '7; Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken through 9-9 of Fig. 7; Fig.

10 is a view looking downward in the direction of the arrow in, in Fig. 4, before the concrete is poured, and not showing the supporting members; Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the bamboo strand used in the mat construction; 5 Fig. 12 is a sectional view through a cesspool vault or sewer, showing the application of my improved construction to such structures; Fig. 13 shows the application of my construction to pipes, the interior core being formed as shown in Fig. 14 10 and encased in concrete, as shown in Fig. 13.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

I is a building to be constructed. 2 is the roof.

3 is the ceiling. 4 are the side walls of the build- 15 ing. 5 is the floor of the building. 6 is a column of a building. I is a section of the mat formed of strands of bamboo 8, and 9 is a bamboo warp.

Ill are the tie wires, and II are metal anchors.

l2 are metal reenforcements. i3 is the coarse mat used in the roof and flooring. I4 is fine mesh mat. I5 is concrete, and I6 is the finished coat. I! are battens; I8 are braces. I9 is the scratch surface of the concrete before finishing coat l6 isapplied. 20 is a bamboo form for pipes.

Bamboo mats are constructed in sections of suitable size; I have found that mats 5 ft. Wide and 16 ft. long are convenient for construction for the side walls; for the floors and roof, much longer mats may be used to advantage. In the construction of these mats bamboo strands 16 ft. long form the horizontal members; and, when I use the term horizontal members, I do not wish to be limited to the level, as these strands of the mat of which they are a composition may be placed at any angle with reference to the vertical that the construction may require, with reference to the side walls and partitions. In the floors, ceiling and roof the respective layers of bamboo mats are laid alternately cross-wise; i. e., one layer lengthwise of the building and the next layer cross-wise of the building.

I have found, however, that the nearer the horizontal, or level, the bamboo strands are placed the better bonding I obtain, owing to the fact that there is less slip of the soft concrete. These bamboo strands are constructed as shown in cross-section in Fig. 11. The bamboo is split and the pulp removed, leaving the solid bamboo with the original outside shell or surface on the outside, the edges being shaped to form angles to facilitate the bonding of the cement or plaster to the strand. The. warp is shown substantially in cross-section as outlined in Fig. 0; in other Words, it is not particularly shaped. 5

I do not wish to limit myself, however, to the shapes described and shown, as my process and construction may be accomplished with almost any shape laid up in almost any way. I am describing, however, the preferable method as evolved in large building construction in the Philippine Islands.

The mats described are woven ordinarily by the natives by hand where the bamboo is worked. The construction is shown in detail in Figs. 6, 10, 11 and 14.

To form a wall two or three mats are placed back to back; that is, the face or surface of the bamboo strands are outward on both sides. The mats are wired together at a specific distance apart, say from 3 to 12 inches, or more, according to whether they are to be used as partition walls outside, or heavy supporting walls. This feature is particularly shown in Figs. 6-8, the wiring I6 spacing preferably being on 18 inch centers staggered.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, the supporting studding or temporary bracing, usually of 2x4 wood, is shown. The same is also shown in Fig. 5, there being placed between the mats and said bracing battens of any suitable shape or size. I have found 1 x 3 to be suitable.

Almost all varieties of bamboo growing in the Philippine Islands are adaptable for this work. The bamboo is split, shaved and formed into strands and warps, as shown in Fig. 11; It is then woven into a mat, and strands with the shell of the bamboo on the outside and the apex on the inside are woven, using a warp of almost any convenient shape, A coarser mat [3 of somewhat similar construction is made for the floor and ceiling construction, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

For the construction of walls, columns, partitions, and other types of concrete construction, woven mesh of bamboo is spaced to the distance that the thickness of the wall may require and held in place by 2x4s, or similar size of lumber. I have found that walls and columns of sizes suitable for concrete bungalows can be poured continuously to a height of 12 ft. The vertical members of the supports are placed approximately ZV; feet on centers, the horizontal supports being spaced approximately 3 feet apart. These supports are placed equally on each side of the concrete wall to be poured, to support the bamboo mesh temporarily until the concrete sets. The mesh and supports are both tied by wire of sufficient strength to prevent expansion while the pouring of the concrete takes place.

The erection of the bamboo mesh, as well as the supports for the same, requires but little skilled labor and time. The filling of the space between the bamboo mats with concrete requires but little attention, as any voids can readily be detected, the mats being sufficiently open to observe the density of the mixture.

Practically no tamping is required; instead, a little tapping on the outside of the bamboo mesh will cause the concrete to settle into proper place. The surfaces of the walls are always accessible, and can be roughened to any degree desired before the concrete sets so as to leave the surfaces of the wall in the best possible condition to receive the plaster material, tiles, or aggregates, and obtain the best possible adhesion. The cost of roughening the surfaces before the concrete sets is very small.

The mortar from the concrete fills most of the voids in the bamboo mesh, causing the bamboo to be imbedded in the concrete to such an extent that the bamboo acts as a very strong reenforcement, being close to the surface where it will have the maximum value in tensile strength. Plaster is applied to the outside surfaces, obtaining an excellent mechanical bond, as well as chemical, as a sufiicient amount of mortar from the concrete comes in contact with the plaster.

In the setting up of the mat, the horizontal strips of the bamboo mesh are V-shaped, with the point of the V or the apex pointing inwardly, thus causing the plaster to key itself to the mesh. There are also suflicient voids in the mesh after the concrete is poured to provide still further means of mechanical bond.

Metallic reenforcing in the tropics, unless imbedded very deeply in the concrete, oxidizes and expands, breaking away the concrete to agreat extent. A great many precautions need to be taken to prevent this from occurring by making the concrete very dense and imbedding and reenforcing very deeply.

In the construction of columns, the mats are formed in circular form and secured in place, then poured and worked as heretofore described in the formation of the side walls. See, Figs. 13 and 14.

It may be well to describe here the construction of a building, according to my method. First, the solid foundation of concrete is laid, then the walls around and under the building are constructed to the first floor level. The floor is then laid, using closely woven very heavy bamboo M for the form. Then a layer of cement is placed just to cover the bamboo; then another layer of more open woven bamboo is laid crosswise of the first layer of bamboo; again, a layer of cement is placed, then a layer of fine bamboo I4 is laid crosswise of the second layer of bamboo, and then cement again. The last layer of cement is scored closely both ways and rather deep, say 4 inch deep, so as to take the finishing coat of cement later. The walls are now constructed to the ceiling level, then the ceiling is constructed almost the same as the fioor, both about 4 inches thick. The ceiling has three layers of bamboo and cement, the same as the floor. The ceiling is a little different, in a Way, as the first layer of fine bamboo l4 to be laid is the finished layer on the inside; so I lay first a finely woven bamboo I4 to take the plaster easily for finishing purposes. The underside of the first floors are not finished. The ceiling has a slight slope on the top only, to cause any water that might collect there through a leaky roof to run off. The trusses are not spaced over four feet apart and built over a row of steel that is placed in the ceiling; this steel is inch rod bent at the ends and placed about 1 inches apart, with hooks passing under the layers of bamboo mesh in the ceiling. This steel is about a foot long projecting up into the trusses and tied around the truss steel. See, Figs. 2, '7 and 9.

The roof is now placed in position. This construction is a little different. I lay all three layers of bamboo mesh tied together with wire, then pour one layer of sand and cement, approximately 1-5 of coarse sand, and let it run into the three meshes the best it will so as to fill most of the voids. The mixture is liquid enough to apply easily and not run through the first closely woven mesh, or rather, the mesh on the bottom. Two more openly woven meshes, as stated, are placed on the top, making a total of three layers of bamboo mesh used infloors, ceiling and roof. These layers, as heretofore stated, are preferably about 5 feet wide and 16 to 20 feet long, and are laid crosswise to each other in this floor and ceiling construction.

I might state here that I have found it desirable to begin my construction just above the ground levels, say 6 inches above. In the construction of columns and supporting pillars, I have deemed it advisable to reenforce the corners with iron, as shown in the drawings. See, Figs. '7, 8 and 9.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view in elevation of a man-hole and its cover. Fig. 13 is a sectional view in elevation of a sewer-pipe, and Fig. 14 is a side view in elevation of the bamboo for use in the construction of the sewer-pipe.

I have found that a very cheap method of constructing sewer-pipe, in place, or to be placed, is by using a bamboo form 20 slightly larger than the inside diameter of the pipe, using a sliding form of wood or pipe of the size of the inside of the sewer-pipe to be constructed placed within the bamboo, and which may be easily turned therein and withdrawn; the outside form may be of old cement barrels, or any desired container. 1 have also found that the black iron barrels in which cement is shipped, if bent square, make a good form.

In the construction of these pipes, this system requires a rather liquid mixture, and the withdrawal of the form within smoothes the inside of the pipe, leaving a very pleasing and perfect construction.

In this specification and claims, I have been using the term, concrete and concrete construction, rather loosely. I mean, generally, a bonding material which may consist of hydrated cement, lime, or melted plastics; but I do not wish to limit myself to any bonding material. I wish especially to cover the mineral bitumens and asphalt, as they are particularly applicable for my work in colder climates, or when stiffened with suitable stiffening materials. In this speciflcation and claims, when I use the word form, I mean the term as applied in civil engineering, a mold for concrete; not lathing upon which concrete is smeared.

Also, in this specification and claims, when I use the term organic material, I have especially described bamboo; but grasses, bagasse, cornstalks, fibre, etc., are very suitable for my work.

This application is a division of my previous application, filed on Sept. 24, 1930, Ser. No. 484,019, for process of concrete construction materials for the same and product thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A floor or roof construction comprising a mat form of bamboo encased in concrete superimposed in spaced relation by another bamboo mat likewise encased in said concrete, the upper surface of the concrete being finished, the concrete in the floor or roof being integrally formed with the concrete in the adjacent structure of the building.

2. A floor, ceiling or roof construction comprising a mat form of bamboo encased in concrete superimposed in spaced relation by another bamboo mat likewise encased in said concrete, the concrete in the floor, ceiling or roof being integrally formed with the concrete in the adjacent structure of the building.

3. A floor, ceiling or roof construction comprising a mat form of bamboo encased in con crete superimposed in spaced relation by another bamboo mat likewise encased in said concrete, the oozed concrete surface below said first mentioned mat being finished.

4. A floor, ceiling or roof construction comprising a mat form of bamboo encased in concrete superimposed in spaced relation with another mat of bamboo of coarser construction embedded in said concrete, said concrete being formed in situ with relation to a structure of which it forms a permanent part.

JOHN E. GRANT. 

